Author Archive for Pat Williams
Raised with hopes, dreams and a desire to make my mark on the world, I set out with excitement and the desire to contribute to the "Greater Good." I took a side trip to raise children and support my husband's career only to realize that "I" got lost along the way. I believe we could have traveled together if we'd both understood the importance of equality and the necessity of evolving roles in the family. My dream is that in the future, all couples will understand the importance of supporting each other fully in word AND deed so each can live in a respectful relationship filled with truth and love. Find me on twitter, CyberCletch, Real Home Sense, Real Estate Tourist and Canadiana Connection.
12 Ways to Be a Better Parent in the New Year
It’s a new year and many of us consider our personal goals or our career goals, but have you considered your parenting goals? Here are 12 parenting tips that will enhance your relationship with your child this year. Be consistent. No matter how tired or fed up you are, consistency is key for long-term parenting [...]
I Don’t Like My Children Right Now
The following article was from a column I wrote and was published in the Wasaga Sun on July 30, 1997. I don’t like my children right now. Now that you’ve finished gasping and thinking terrible things about me – I’ll explain. I love my kids. They’re the best thing that’s happened to me, but at [...]
Hypothetical Children Behave Best
The following article was from a column I wrote and was published in the Wasaga Sun on July 16, 1997. Growth Spurts I was a better parent when I didn’t have children. My hypothetical children never tantrummed in public. They were incredibly polite. They were never out of control. They didn’t climb on the dinner [...]
One Long Hard Look in the Mirror
I read two excellent posts today that I wanted to highlight because the same considerations have crossed my mind. The thought process usually begins with “What the hell are they thinking?” and ends with me shaking my head and trying to ponder how so many archaic sexist attitudes are still considered the norm in our [...]
Scrubbing The Sticky Floor
Failure is a means to spur us on to create something better. Something more successful. When I realized my marriage failed to provide me with what I needed to be a happy, whole person, I spent a lot of time thinking (much of it in bed) trying to determine what I could have / should [...]
TED Talk: Reinventing Feminism
Sometimes the models of a meaningful life are in our own kitchen… You can catch presenter Courtney Martin and many other smart writers over at Feministing.com
Where Would You Be?
One night President Obama and his wife Michelle decided to do something out of routine and go for a casual dinner at a restaurant that wasn’t too luxurious. When they were seated, the owner of the restaurant asked the president’s secret service if he could please speak to the First Lady in private. They obliged [...]
Happy Father’s Day
“Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers – and fathering is a very important stage in their development.” David M. Gottesman The sexiest, most interesting men alive, are not the ones with six packs for abs, nor the men who are driving flashy cars and carrying thick wallets. They’re the fathers who [...]
Happy Mother’s Day
Today is the day to honor mothers. What makes a good mother can vary considerably person to person and year to year as a child grows. For example, I thought being a mother meant unconditional love, as my children grow I realize, they too, must have some responsibility in upholding their part of our relationship. [...]
Dear Woman – A Manifesto for Conscious Men
The following video was sent to me by email. I watched it with interest, appreciating the intended message, but it left me feeling mildly uncomfortable. There have been many extreme reactions to this video. The issue that many people have – and the one that left me feeling uncomfortable – is making all men responsible [...]